USGS Brown Treesnake Project

Since invading Guam as a stowaway over 50 years ago, the Brown Treesnake (BTS) has been largely responsible for the loss of virtually all native forest birds and some native reptiles on the island.  There is also a high risk of the snake being accidentally transported to other Pacific islands with similarly predator vertebrate species.

The ultimate goal of BTS-related research is to eradicate the snake on Guam, and to prevent further infestations elsewhere.  Our efforts towards this goal include the following areas of emphasis:

1. Expanding biological understanding of the Brown Treesnake, with emphasis on reproduction, recruitment, maturation, and movements.
2. Developing and testing strategies for detecting, trapping, containing, and controlling or eradicating BTS, especially for small BTS and low density populations such as incipient populations in the Northern Mariana Islands or other high-risk islands.
3. Conducting BTS early detection and rapid response, e.g. the USGS BTS Rapid Response Team targets detection of incipient populations by deploying personnel in response to sightings and training cooperators on high-risk islands.
4. Collecting and compiling scientific data to guide management efforts to control and contain other invasive species of reptiles and amphibians.

Recent findings with major management implications include the following conclusions:  (a) adult BTS can be reliably trapped, but visual searches result in detection all individuals in a population regardless of size; (b) trap success is markedly lower in areas with abundant prey; (c) BTS in transportation pathways could be killed by thermal fumigation of cargo; and (d) detection of BTS by traps and visual searchers is influenced by multiple factors, including sex, size, body condition, habitat, and temporally cyclical activity cycles.

Continue to refine understanding of BTS ecology for management purposes, and continually evaluate detection/monitoring tools (such as detector dogs for finding snakes at low densities).  Expand research efforts to include other invasive snake populations, including large constricting snakes (Burmese Python, Boa Constrictor, etc.) in Florida.

	Contact: Gordon H. Rodda and Robert N. Reed USGS-FORT 2150 Centre Ave, Bldg C Fort Collins CO 80526 Gordon_rodda@usgs.gov Robert_reed@usgs.gov Website: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/Resources/Education/BTS/